Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 15

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794

USA > Illinois > Warren County > Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 15

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At the common schools of his neighborhood, sup- plemented by a thorough preparatory training at Cortland, N. Y., Normal Academy, Cyrus J. Wood fitted himself for Rochester, N. Y., University, from which institution he graduated with honors in the class of 1883. The following fall found him at Mon- mouth, where he at once began the study of law, ac- cepting in the meantime the position of reporter on the Gazette. It may be well to remember, that for several years (and the question may not even yet be definitely settled) he was not quite sure as to whether the third or the fourth estate, as recognized by men of letters, should become the field of his per- manent operations. While at college he held the position of telegraph editor of the Rochester Sunday Morning Herald, and after graduating, and before coming West, he was police reporter of the daily is- sue of the same paper. Since coming to the city of Monmouth, though he has in nowise neglected the study of law, the press has claimed him fully as one of its members. From reporter he was first promoted

to the position of city editor of the Gazette, and was soon afterward advanced to the position he has since so ably filled to the entire satisfaction of the Gazette and its readers.

He was admitted to the Bar in October, 1885, and as a member of the legal profession he may yet achieve the highest aims of his ambition and a rec- ord that will favorably compare with that made by any of the disciples of Blackstone.

eorge Abbey, engaged in the livery busi- ness at Kirkwood, is a native of New York, having been born in Steuben County, in 1844. He is a son of Newman and Harriet (Van Wagoner) Abbey, natives of Ulster Co., N. Y. The father came to this State in 1857, . and at first located on section 3, Tompkins Town- ship, where, on rented land, he was engaged in farming for one year. He then moved into the vil- lage of Kirkwood and embarked in the drug business with Mr. L. Howard, the original firm continuing to exist for three years. At the expiration of that time he took into the business his son, Horatio, and the partnership continued until the death of the father, Sept. 1, 1885.

The gentleman whose name we place at the head of this notice was an ininate of his father's household until he reached the age of 17 years, receiving at his hands and in the common schools of the county a good English education. At that young age in life, George Abbey enlisted in the war for the Union, joining Company A, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., as a private, and served in defense of his country's flag for two years and eleven months. He participated in the second battle of Fort Donelson, and engaged in many skirmishes with the guerrillas and was in between 20 and 30 engagements with them. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he received an honorable discharge, came home and once more entered upon the peaceful pursuits of life. He rented land and for two years was engaged in farming. In 1867 he embarked in the livery business, with which he com- bined that of a feed and sale stable at Kirkwood and has since continued in the same, meeting with that

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success which almost universally comes to a man possessed of that push and energy which has char- acterized Mr. Abbey's career in life. In addition to his extensive stables, located contiguous to the tracks of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, Mr. Abbey has a fine residence and two lots in the vil- lage. He is also the owner of 80 acres of land in Kansas, which he is rapidly bringing under a high state of cultivation.

The marriage of Mr. Abbey was solemnized in 1871, at which time Miss Helen Barnum, a native of this State, became his wife. Mr. Abbey votes the Republican ticket, and socially is a member of the G. A. R. He is eminently worthy to be classed as one of the representative business men of the thriv- ing little village of Kirkwood.

saac B. Kirby, engaged as a general fariner on section 34, Ellison Township, was born in Greene Co., Pa., June 25, 1825, his father being Joseph H Kirby, a farmer by occupation, at present residing in Berwick Township, this county. Of a family of four sons and three daughters, our subject was the eldest.

Isaac B. lived at home until he attained the age of 25 years, when he was married, on the 7th of July, 1850, in Greene County, to Miss Eliza A. Bailey, a native of the same county. She was the daughter of a Pennsylvania farmer, and lived at home until her marriage. Her parents died some time ago in the Keystone State. Mrs. Kirby was the youngest child of a family of nine children, and of her union with Isaac B. Kirby, she has become the mother of eight children, all of whom are now living. Three sons and one daughter, of the above mentioned eight children, are married.

In the fall after marriage, Mr. Kirby came to Illinois, and rented land for two years in Peoria County, after which time he removed to Warren County and in the latter county purchased an 80- acre tract of land where he now resides. He has improved his farm and added to his original purchase until he is now the possessor of 200 acres in this township, and 240 acres in Iowa, where two of his

sons now reside. Mr. Kirby has been a very suc- cessful agriculturist, which is attributable to his in- domitable energy, economy and perseverance, with the assistance of his good helpmeet.

Religiously, Mr. Kirby and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. K. has filled the position of Township Trustee and has also held several of the minor township offices, creditably dis- charging the duties of each. Politically, he is iden- tified with the Democratic party.

ames F. Arthurs is a pioneer of Warren County of 1836 and resides on section 18. Kelly Township. He was born in the southern section of the United States, and was reared there. The death of his father when he was three years old left a heavy burden on the mother, as there were eight children of whom she was sole guardian. In 1831, a removal of the family to Putnam Co., Ind., was effected, and in 1836 another change brought the widow and her children to Illinois.

Mr. Arthurs was born Dec. 29, 1807, and is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Wingfield) Arthurs. Mr. Arthurs was 19 when he came to this county, where he has since been identified with its develop- ment and general well-being. The journey was made hither in the manner common in those days, with horses and oxen, and the domestic affairs were managed while the party were en route as nearly as possible as in the home they had left. Mr. Arthurs lived with his brother-in-law for a few months after reaching Illinois, and meanwhile bought the land in- cluded in the farm which he now owns. He erected a log house and split clapboards for the roof and puncheons for the floor. The place now presents a modernized appearance, as the cabin of that early period has given place to farm-structures that are in every way suitable to the change in the circum- stances of the proprietor and to the times.

The union in marriage of Mr. Arthurs and Miss Elizabeth . A. Carmichael, took place in 1835. She was born in the District of Newbury, South Carolina, July 5, 1817. Five of their children are now living. Two sons enlisted in Co. C, 36th Ill. Vol. Inf. Will-

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iam T. was killed in the action at Stone River, Tenn. Abraham Y. died a few weeks after his return to his home.

Mr. Arthurs is a member of the United Brethren Church. He is a man whom his fellow citizens re- spect and esteem.

ohn P. Campbell is the present Township Clerk of Spring Grove. He was born in Huntingdon Co., Pa., Aug. 6, 1853. He is a member of the fourth generation from his earliest known ancestor in this country, being of Scotch-Irish extraction. John A. Camp- bell, his father, was born in 1807, in the same coun- ty in Pennsylvania where the son was born. He was [bred a farmer, that . having been the calling of his race for many generations. He was married in the Keystone State to Mary J. Wray, who was also born in Huntingdon County, Oct. 16, 1817. After his marriage the senior Campbell bought a farm in Bra- dy Township, seven miles from the county-seat, which remained the home of the family until 1865, when the property was sold and a removal to Illi- nois effected. A farm was rented in Suez Township, in Mercer County, where they resided one year, dur- ing which time the father was engaged in prospect- ing for a suitable location for a permanent homestead. In company with his eldest son, he bought a farm on section 9, in the township of Spring Grove, which, in the spring of 1866, he took possession of and made it the family residence until the death of the father, which took place in 1873. His widow now resides in Norwood, Mercer County. They were the parents of II children, of whom eight are still living.

Mr. Campbell is the fourth child. He was 12 years old when his father's family removed to Illi- nois. He had obtained a fair education before com- ing to this State, but after removal hither he contin- ued his studies in the common schools of Spring Grove Township. In the interims of school he en- gaged in the duties of farming. He obtained a prac- tical education, and in 1874 he commenced teaching. He made his first engagement as a pedagogue in District No. 5, of the same township in which he now

lives. In July, 1877, he bought an interest in the dry-goods establishment of G. B. Hardy, at Alexis, and carried on a commercial business for 14 months. He sold out at the end of that time and resumed teaching, to which profession he has since devoted himself exclusively, having been engaged for nearly eight years in the schools of Alexis. -

Politically, Mr. Campbell is a Democrat. He has officiated as Collector in his township and is serving a second term in his present official position.

He formed a matrimonial alliance with Ida Mc- Bride, Oct. 11, 1877. She was born in Monmouth, and is the daughter of Abisha and Parmelia (Alley) McBride. Their children are Freddie H. and Stan- ley Vergne. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members. of the Presbyterian Church and he is one of the El- ders of his congregation.

oseph S. Gowdy, engaged as an agricultur- ist on section 24, Hale Township,- was born in Clarke Co., Ohio, June 29, 1831. He lived at the place of his nativity until he was about 20 years of age, when he decided to come Westward, deeming the facilities better there for acquiring a competency than in the East. He has, since 1851, made his residence in Warren County, with the exception of two years spent in Henderson County. He purchased 70 acres of land, which, by his careful judgment and energy, has been put in an advanced state of cultivation, and is second to none in the township in its appearance to-day.

Mr. Gowdy was united in marriage in Hale Town- ship, Oct. 24, 1860, with Eliza Hess, who was born in Clarke Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1840. Of their union, four children have been born, their names being as follows : Lunetta B., Henry C., Meda A. and Nan- nie L. Mr. Gowdy has been School Director, and himself and wife are members of the United Presby- terian Church. Politically, Mr. Gowdy is a Repub- lican.

The parents, John and Ann (Steele) Gowdy, were natives respectively of Ohio and Kentucky. They came to Warren County before the days of railroads, locating in Hale Township as early as 1851. Here

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they lived for over a quarter of a century, becoming well known and highly respected people of that com- munity. The elder Gowdy died Oct. 12, 1864, his wife dying March 8, 1880. The parents of Mrs. Gowdy were Christian and Nancy (Sellburger) Hess. They were both born in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hess came to Warren County the year before the elder Gowdy, being in the spring of 1850. His wife died in Ohio, in May, 1845. He lives at Kirkwood, Ill.

saac Jenkins, a retired farmer residing in Berwick village, was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Aug. 20, 1814, and is a son of Zeph- aniah Jenkins, who was born Aug. 9, 1789, in New Jersey, and who moved with his parents to Ohio in 1805, where he remained until his death, which took place Dec. 1, 1854. Zephaniah Jenkins was married Jan. 16, 1812, to Miss South, who was born in New Jersey, in 1789, and died in Ohio, in 1844. Their children were four in num- ber,-John S., Isaac, Frances M. and Elijah.

Isaac Jenkins, the subject of this biographical notice, worked on his father's farm and attended the common school, developing into manhood. He also passed a portion of his time in clerking in his native State before coming to this county. He came here March 25, 1853, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits, which he continued until the time he removed to Berwick village.

Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Caroline Kellum, March 4, 1841, in Ohio, Rev. Fife, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating. She was born Sept. 19, 1817, in New Jersey, her parents moving to Ohio when she was but one year old. Her father, James Kellum, was born May 1, 1792, and died May 30, 1878, in Berwick. He was married to Ann Albert- son, in 1816, who died Oct. 20, 1880. The issue of their union was nine children,-Caroline, wife of the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, born April 30, 1819; Maria, July, 26, 1821; Rebecca, Dec. 13, 1823; James, Sept. 20, 1826; Josiah, Aug. 13, 1829; John M., March 20, 1832; Edward M., Nov. 30, 1834; Sanford W., March 21, 1837.

Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had born to them

five children, three of whom are deceased. The record is as follows: Annie, born Dec. 3, 1841 ; John, April 1, 1844, died May 19, 1866; Amanda, born Nov. 23, 1847, died Nov. 19, 1848; Dean F., born Oct. 11, 1850, died the same year; Belle, born March 15, 1857.

Mr. Jenkins has 761/2 acres of good farm land on section 8, Berwick Township, and also 272 acres inside the corporate limits of Berwick village, on which he has a good residence and there resides re- tired from the active labors of life. Socially, he is a member of the Order of Good Templars and also of the I. O. O. F., to which latter organization he has belonged for 36 years. He at present is a member of Lodge No. 84, Abingdon. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church located at Berwick, and politically, he votes with the Re- publican party.

The grandfather of Mrs. Jenkins, Jantes Kellum, was born Jan. 18, 1758, and died April 26, 1817, and his wife, Elizabeth Kellum, was born Feb. 11, 1759, and died in 1819. Their children were, Gilbert, born April 8, 1780, died May 19, 1844 ; Ziba, born Feb. 18, 1782, died May 12, 1832 ; John, born April 23, 1785 ; Lovisa, born Aug. 12, 1787; Rebecca, Dec. 23, 1789; James, May 1, 1792; Elizabeth, Jan. 17, 1795; William, birth unknown ; Aaron, born June 6, 1800.

ark S. Douglas, manager of the Star Livery, Sale and Feed Stables, of Monmouth, is a native of that city, having been born Sept. 13, 1847. He is the son of Samuel Douglas, whose biography will be found elsewhere in the pages of this work. Hark S. was educated at the Monmouth schools and studied law some time with Mr. Almon Kidder, but the " turf" was always more attractive to him than were the pages of Coke or Blackstone, so we find him in 1880 engaged in the livery business, to the management of which he has since devoted himself with an assiduity that fully betokens his eminent fitness for that particular sphere in life. And, in point of fact, aside from a horse show or a horse race, his present business affords him

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more real pleasure than anything else that he could possibly engage in.

He was too young for a soldier and too honest for a politician, so the name of Hark Douglas will prob- ably continue for some time to be found among the plain, every-day people, though it is not likely that as a rule the class named will have quite as much fun as he will. « In politics, the Republicans claim him, but as he boasts of being a " Mugwump," it is evident that his great love for the old land-marks of that party did not include a certain " plumed knight."

Mr. D. was married at Abingdon, Ill., Feb. 15, 1872, to Miss Lidie Reynolds, a native of Warren County, Ill. They have two children, a girl and boy, bearing the names of Leota and S. Leonard.

illis Pruit is an old settler of Warren County and is a farmer on section 25, Kelly Township. He was born Aug. 3, 1810, in Henderson Co., Ky., and is the son of Doakes and Milly (Hanks) Pruit. His parents were natives of North Carolina, and were among the earliest pioneers of the county in Kentucky where their son was born. They both died there.

Mr. Pruit received the bringing up and education of a farmer's son, and in 1829 he went to Brecken- ridge County, in his native State, where he lived four years. While there, in 1832, he was married to Jane Moredock. She was a native of the county where she was married, and was born Dec. 24, 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Pruit left that county in the year in which they were married and returned thither in 1834. Mr. Pruit engaged in farming until the struggle between Texas and Mexico gave opportunity to see the world, and he enlisted in the service of the Mexican govern- ment. He was in service there three years and was in the action at San Jacinto under Santa Anna. He remained a year in Henderson County after his re- turn to Kentucky, and went thence to New Madrid Co., Mo., where he operated as a farmer two years.

In 1845, he came to Warren County. He ob- tained the ownership of the farm on which he has resided for forty years and on which there had been

a few acres of prairie broken. He erected a log cabin, and when the structure burned three years later he erected the frame house in which his family have since lived. Mrs. Pruit died in 1879. They had five children. William is a resident of Furness Co., Neb. ; Lucy is Mrs. S. G. Heflin, of Shelby Co., Iowa; Abby is married to Mr. E. Guernsey, of Pot- tawatomie Co., Iowa ; Alfred G. lives in York Co., Neb. ; Jennie is the wife of Homer Guernsey, and they are the managers of the Pruit homestead.

eorge W. Robinson, the owner of 250 acres of good farm land located on sec- tions 5, 6 and 17, Berwick Township, and which he is actively engaged in cultivating, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 5, 1842. He is a son of William Robinson, also. a native of York State, born there in 1812, and who died in his native State in 1876. The father mar -- ried a Miss Ruah Newman in 1834. She was born in 1815, in New Jersey, and died in 1878. They were the parents of four children, born in the follow- ing order: Lydia M., Oct. 28, 1836 ; Cordelia, Nov .. 7, 1838; William W., Nov. 28, 1840; George W., Dec. 5, 1842.

George W. Robinson formed a matrimonial alli- ance Oct. 24, 1867, with Miss Anna Jenkins, who was born in the Buckeye State, Dec. 3, 1841. Her father, Isaac Jenkins, was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, in 1815. He married Miss Caroline Kellum (born Sept. 19, 1818,) March 4, 1841, and came to Illinois in 1853. They are the parents of five children and are both yet living, passing the sunset of their lives in peace and quiet in the village of Berwick. Their chil- dren are Anna, wife of the subject of this notice; John, born April 1, 1844; Amanda died in infancy ; Dean, who also died in infancy ; and Belle, born in 1857.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson of this notice are John W., born May 4, 1869; Edith, Dec. 9, 1873; Claude, June 7, 1875 ; Zaida Belle, May 6, 1879; and Arthur Garfield, Oct. 8, 1881.

Mr. Robinson enlisted in the War for the Union, joining Co. C, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., Aug. 9, 1862, and was mustered into the service at Monmouth, Ill.

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He accompanied his regiment to Cairo, Ill., where it remained some two weeks. He was first in active service at Forts Henry and Hindman; was then ordered to Fort Donelson, and participated in the battle of Feb. 3, 1863; then went to Clarksville, Tenn., at which point he remained until he was mustered out, July 5, 1865. He was once wounded (in the back of the neck), but it was not sufficiently serious to prevent him from participating in every battle in which his company was engaged up to the time of being mustered out of service.

On receiving his discharge, he returned to this county and again engaged in the peaceful pursuits of life. On his fine farm of 250 acres he has a good residence and barn, and is meeting with that success in life which is duly merited by a man of his energy and perseverance. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., Post, No. 239, at Monmouth, and, in his politics, votes as he shot, with the Republican party.

lonzo Sperry, formerly an agriculturist of this county, but who at present is passing" the sunset of his life in quiet retirement, residing on section 10, Hale Township, was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Nov. 22, 1822. He continued to reside in his native State un- til about 1849, when he went to Jefferson Co., Wis., and there lived until 1860. During that year he came to this county and became a citizen of Mon- mouth Township, from whence he moved to Lenox Township, and then, in 1874, made another removal, locating in Hale Township, where for the past II years he has continued to reside. He has disposed of his real estate and now lives a retired life in Hale Township.

The marriage of Alonzo Sperry to Miss Julia Heath, occurred Nov. 15, 1844, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. She was born in the county in which she was married, Aug. 2, 1826, and has borne her husband three children,-Aura E., George W. and Plin R. Aura was married to George Lynch Jan. 31, 1863, , but is now residing with her brother in Hale Town- ship; George W. is a mechanic living at Monmouth; and Plin R. is engaged in farming, living in Hale Township, where he is the owner of 90 acres of land, the major portion of which is tillable.

In politics, Mr. Sperry endorses the principles ad- vocated by the Democratic party.

evi B. Cowick, farmer and stock-raiser, re- siding in Larchland, and owning 240 acres of improved and well equipped farm land, in Lenox Township, is the second child in or- der of birth of his parent's family. He was born Sept. 2, 1846, in Cumberland Co., Pa. John and Hannah (Bixler) Cowick, his parents, were na- tives of the Keystone State, coming to Warren Co., Ill., in 1854, when they settled in Monmouth. They now reside in Lenox Township. Their children were Mary, Levi B. and Samuel R. Mary and Samuel R. reside in Kansas.

Levi B. Cowick, the gentleman whose name heads this biographical notice, was but a child of eight years when his parents removed to Warren County, and of which he has since been a resident. Mr. Cowick was among the many who with brave hearts and strong arms successfully defended the Union flag in the struggle against treason. He enlisted in May, 1864, in the 138th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served until the October following, when he returned to this county and engaged in agricultural pursuits, becoming also quite an extensive stock dealer. He has endeavored hard and earnestly to put his land under the best cultivation possible and has succeed- ed, for at present his farm of 240 acres, entirely fenced and improved with all necessary farm build- ings, farming implements, machinery, etc., is second to none in the township.

The marriage of Sarah O. Jones and Levi B. Cow- ick occurred in Tompkins Township, this county, on Feb. 22,- 1872, she being a daughter of Calvin and Rebecca (McQuown) Jones, who were natives of Virginia. They came to Warren County about the year 1854, and settled in Tompkins Township, mak- ing it their permanent home. Of their union were born four children,-John, Furney, Parker and Sa- rah O., our subject's wife, who was born Oct. 10, 1850, in the State of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Cow- ick have had two children,-Arthur G. and Frank B. Mr. C. has been Justice of the Peace for ten years, and in politics is identified with the Republican party.

LIBRARY COi THE UNIVERSI !! WE ILI. IN( ".

OXFORD-DOWN Sheep

PETER POEBLES

MACHARS VICTOR

DOLLY DUTTON

THOROUGH-BRED CLYDESDALES.

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RESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM VIEW OF WM H. BROOKS, SECS. 9810, ROSEVILLE TOWNSHIP.

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WARREN COUNTY.

hilip J. Karns, a farmer residing on sec- tion 32, Berwick Township, was born in ₹ the Province of Baden, Germany, Oct. 22, 1815, and came to the United States in 1828, with his uncle, Jacob Sackman. He landed at New York city after a voyage of 52 days on a sailing vessel, and was one of three persons out of 360 that was not affected by what is known as sea- sickness.

Soon after landing he accompanied his uncle to Lancaster, Ohio, where he remained until 1842, when he removed to Morgan Co., Ind. In that county he remained some five years, engaged in farming, when he came to Greenbush Township, this - county, and there followed his chosen vocation, that of agriculture, until 1870, when he moved one half mile north into Berwick Township, where, on section 32, he had purchased 467 acres of land, and which he has increased by subsequent purchases to 700 acres. He has a fine residence on his place, cover- ing 166 feet of ground, two stories in height, with a cellar under the entire building. and it is said to be one of the most splendid farm dwellings in Warren County. It was erected at a cost of $7,000. Not alone to agriculture does Mr. Karns attribute his financial success. He is and has been engaged to a considerable extent in thé breeding of Norman horses, and also has a fine lot of mules. He has one span of roadsters on the farm which are "beauties," and is also extensively engaged in raising Poland-China hogs and Short-horn cattle. His herd of cattle are seven-eighths full blood.

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Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 15

Author: Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 794

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794